Vertically engageable carrier foot

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for securing a load carrier to a transporting vehicle that includes an anchor mechanism adapted for securement to a transporting vehicle and for releasable engagement with a carrier foot. The carrier foot has a latching mechanism for releasable engagement with the anchor mechanism. The latching mechanism is adapted for latching engagement to, and disengagement from the anchor mechanism by movement of the carrier foot in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the carrier foot. An example of such movement is vertical movement substantially of an up and down nature. The latching mechanism has a latching and an unlatching configuration and the latching mechanism is urged toward the latching configuration by a resilient biasing mechanism. The latching mechanism is adapted to move from the latching configuration to the unlatching configuration and back to the latching configuration under the influence of the resilient biasing mechanism and responsive to the carrier foot being positioned into latching engagement upon the anchor mechanism. An example of the resilient biasing mechanism is a spring that yields from a latching configuration to an unlatching configuration of that spring as the latching mechanism moves from its latching configuration to its unlatching configuration.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/259,442, filed Mar. 1, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,509.This application also claims the benefit of currently now abandoned U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/189,070, filed Mar. 13, 2000. Thedisclosure of each application is expressly incorporated herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to vehicular load carriers, andmore specifically to load carrier feet and anchors used in theattachment and support of load carriers upon a transporting vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

It is appreciated that a considerable amount of the time that isrequired to install a load carrier upon a vehicle is that time which isspent on the assembly of the carrier itself before its being attached tothe transporting vehicle. As a result, it has been found to be anadvantageous feature of carrier designs to enable installation andremoval of a partially or fully assembled load carrier on to and off atransporting vehicle.

Known designs for carrier feet that can be installed upon anddisconnected from the transporting vehicle while the carrier remainsassembled are typically engaged upon a base fixed to the vehicle using asliding motion parallel to the longitudinal axis of both the carrierfoot and the transporting vehicle. This becomes problematic when theentire carrier is to remain assembled during removal because each foottypically must be simultaneously removed by being slid it off or out ofits respective base together with the other feet. Similar difficulty isencountered when trying to install an assembled carrier onto atransporting vehicle's rooftop or other receiving surface. Each footmust be slidingly engaged upon its respective base, and because thatbase may not be a perfect fit with the foot, or the base may have becomefouled while the foot was disengaged, sliding of the foot onto the basemay be resisted. This experience has been likened to trying to slide asticky drawer into a bureau. Previously, when the feet would each beindividually installed upon the respective bases before the load carrierwas assembled thereto, an operator could move about the transportingvehicle and manipulate each foot individually. Normally this includeswiggling the carrier foot onto the base in order to slide the carrierfoot progressively into a properly seated position upon the base. Havingconfigured each foot, the carrier could then be assembled thereupon. Acompounding problem of such a process, however, is that the carrier feetare usually upon the roof of a transporting vehicle at this stage in theprocess and resultantly assemblage of the load carrier must be awkwardlycarried out atop the vehicle. Necessarily, the operator will be reachingatop the transporting vehicle to complete the installation of the loadcarrier and be required to frequently move about the vehicle becausethat person's reach will be limited by the rooftop location.

Similar problems can be encountered when only a cross bar or strut isconnected between two opposite feet and which must be installed toextend from one side to the other of the transporting vehicle. It willbe difficult, if not impossible for a single person working alone toslide each foot onto its respective base because he or she will not beable to simultaneously align both feet with the two respective bases asis required for proper sliding engagement.

Conventional designs for such support feet have required in the pastthat an exterior cover be opened in order to expose for manipulation theoperating device that affects the fastening of the carrier foot to itsbase. Therefore, when installing the foot upon the base, the exteriorcover would normally be open so that the operating device can bemanipulated into an open configuration for engagement upon a base ordirectly to a vehicle. Once engaged, however, the operating device mustthen again be manipulated to a closed or clamping configuration forfixing the foot to the base or vehicle. The exterior cover of thecarrier foot is then closed and locked to prevent unauthorized tamperingwith the operating device. From the experience of working with theseconventionally designed carrier feet, it has been recognized asdesirable to minimize not only the exposure of the internal workingparts of the foot, but to also minimize required operator interactionduring the installation process when both hands can be better used forproperly positioning at least the several feet, and possibly an entirelyassembled carrier with respect to the various connection points forattachment thereto.

Another drawback of conventionally designed carrier feet is that they donot typically include an accommodation for adapting to differentlyconfigured vehicle mounting surfaces. This is particularly true in caseswhere the feet are attached to bases at the vehicle's roof at edgeregions where contoured slopes are generally incorporated into thevehicle's design. Normally, the base for the foot is rigidly attached tothe vehicle's roof in this sloped region and it is the carrier foot thatis specially designed to be fixedly attached to that particular type ofvehicle/base combination to compensate for the roofs configuration. As aresult, the manufacturer of the feet must essentially provide customdesigns for differently configured vehicles. It has been recognized ashighly desirable by such manufacturers to enable a generic carrier footdesign to be utilized on a wide range of differently configuredtransporting vehicles. Because the primary characteristic affecting thisaspect of the design is the degree of slope at the roof region where thebase is attached, it has been recognized for the present invention thatfacilitating pivotation of the carrier foot with respect to the base inthe direction substantially parallel to the cross bar with whichattachment must be made permits utilization of a uniformly designedcarrier foot on multiple and differently configured transportingvehicles and bases.

In view of the above-described deficiencies associated with knowndesigns for load carrier feet, the present invention has been developedto alleviate these drawbacks and provide benefits to the user, whichhave been appreciated as desirable at least partially through historicaluse of these known designs. These enhancements and benefits aredescribed in detail herein below with respect to several alternativeembodiments of the present invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments alleviatesthe drawbacks described above with respect to conventionally designedload carrier feet and incorporates several additionally beneficialfeatures.

A primary benefit of the carrier foot design of the present invention isthat it permits a carrier foot to be engaged upon a supporting base in asubstantially vertical direction and without operator manipulation oflatching mechanisms in the carrier foot. Installation is accomplishedmerely by positioning the carrier foot properly upon the base. Thiseliminates the sliding engagement described above which has beenappreciated as a detrimental characteristic of conventionally designedcarrier feet. Also, because the latching member of the presentinvention's operating mechanism is yieldably biased toward a latchingand also locked configuration, the foot can be arranged into thelatching and locked configuration before being positioned upon the baseand then merely pressed into engagement with the base without furthermanipulation being required prior to utilization of the carrier foot. Aside benefit of this configuration is that it provides a fail-safedesign because of the bias toward the locked configuration. That is, thecarrier foot is urged away from an unlatching or releasableconfiguration unless specifically reconfigured thereto by the operator.Still further, an advantageous characteristic of this design is that thecarrier foot is made installable and disengageable without the use oftools.

An additional benefit of the present invention is that the operativemembers of the carrier foot are protectively and permanently housedwithin the shielding cover of the foot during normal utilization. Thereis no need to open the foot's housing since the only part of theoperating mechanism requiring user manipulation is a push-button releasemechanism. But even when the push button release mechanism is depressedfor disengaging the foot from the base, the inner working mechanisms ofthe foot remain protected within the housing for the device.

A locking mechanism is provided that is capable of preventing depressionof the push button release mechanism and in turn unauthorizeddisengagement of the rack from the base. As in traditional designs, thelock is manipulated between locked and unlocked configurations using aconventionally cut key.

As discussed, in order to adapt a universally designed foot to differentroof configurations and therefore different transporting vehicleswithout varying the carrier foot's construction, the latching mechanismin the foot includes a latch body that inserts into a space providedunder a cylindrical catch bar thereby fastening the foot to the base.The latch body, however, is not fixed to the catch bar of the base, butinstead is permitted to slide therearound. In this manner, pivotation ofthe foot about a longitudinal axis of the catch bar, which is parallelto a longitudinal axis of the foot, is facilitated thereby making itpossible to adapt the same foot to differently configured vehicle roofdesigns. That is, the foot can be variably configured with respect tothe base depending upon the pitch of the particular vehicle's roof atthe point at which the base is connected. The top or head portion of thecarrier foot in which a cross bar or load strut is engageable ismanufactured to be exchangeable on the intermediate body portion of thefoot. In the illustrated embodiment, the head portion is permanentlyfastened to the intermediate body portion before distribution to an enduser. In this manner, the configuration of the foot is easily adapted bythe manufacturer depending upon the anticipated shape and design of thecross bar expected to be utilized with the particular foot. In thepreferred embodiment, a securing mechanism used for releasably securingthe cross bar to the head portion of the carrier foot incorporatesmembers having opposed ramped surfaces that when slid relative to oneanother cause expansion and/or contraction of the securing mechanisminto and/or out of securing engagement with the cross bar. An analogoussecuring device has been more fully described in commonly owned U.S.Pat. No. 5,038,988, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

The separate construction of the base member from the carrier foot bodymakes it possible for that base member to be custom designed forinstallation upon a particularly configured vehicle. The connectionbetween the base and the carrier foot, however, is made generic so thatthe foot body need not be individually adapted for different vehicles.This makes providing an array of product for different vehicles muchless expensive than in cases in which each foot must to becustom-adapted for a particular vehicle.

As shown, the base can be left on the transporting vehicle with thecatch bar exposed when a footed load carrier is not being used. Thecatch bar can be utilized as a tie-down loop in this configuration forsecuring other types of loads to the vehicle.

In at least one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of anarrangement for securing a load carrier to a transporting vehicle. Thearrangement includes an anchor mechanism that is adapted for securementto a transporting vehicle and for releasable engagement with a carrierfoot. The carrier foot of the invention has a latching mechanism forreleasable engagement with the anchor mechanism. The latching mechanismis adapted for latching engagement to and disengagement from the anchormechanism by movement of the carrier foot in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the carrier foot. An example ofsuch movement is vertical movement substantially of an up and downnature. The latching mechanism has a latching and an unlatchingconfiguration and the latching mechanism is urged toward the latchingconfiguration by a resilient biasing mechanism. Further, the latchingmechanism is adapted to move from the latching configuration to theunlatching configuration and back to the latching configuration underthe influence of the resilient biasing mechanism and responsive to thecarrier foot being positioned into latching engagement upon the anchormechanism. An example of the resilient biasing mechanism is a springthat yields from a latching configuration to an unlatching configurationof that spring as the latching mechanism moves from its latchingconfiguration to its unlatching configuration.

In the illustrated embodiment, the latching mechanism has an operatingmechanism for configuring the latching mechanism between the latchingand the unlatching configurations. As shown, the operating mechanismincludes a push-button actuator for operating the latching mechanismbetween the latching and the unlatching configurations. The push-buttonactuator is operatively associated with and controlled by a lockmechanism that is configured for alternatively allowing and preventingoperation of the operating mechanism. Furthermore, the push-buttonactuator also cooperates with a resilient biasing mechanism for urgingthe push-button actuator toward a latching configuration.

The arrangement includes a housing configured to encase the operatingmechanism and the latching mechanism thereby preventing access to suchworking mechanisms of the carrier foot. In a preferred embodiment, thepush-button actuator is exposed through the housing for operatormanipulation. That is, the only portion of the carrier foot that theoperator must engage is the push-button actuator, and that is only whendisengagement is required. Installation is accomplished without theoperator having to manipulate the carrier foot at all, other than tomove it into the latched configuration. Optionally, a lock mechanism mayalso be carried in the push-button actuator for preventing unauthorizedactuation.

The anchor mechanism has a catch member and the latching mechanism has alatch body. The latch body is configured for latching cooperation withthe catch member. In the illustrated embodiment, the catch member is abar suspended between a pair of supports. The bar defines a catch areaunderneath itself for accepting at least a portion of the latch bodytherein.

The anchor mechanism is adapted to be fixed upon a vehicle with thecatch member disposed at a distance from the vehicle. Usually, and asillustrated, this location is proximate the roof edges of the vehicle.The latch body has an abutment surface designed for engagement with thecatch member in a latched configuration. As shown, the latch body has aninclined surface that is arranged for sliding engagement against thecatch member as the carrier foot is installed upon the anchor mechanism.This sliding engagement causes the latching mechanism to move from thelatching configuration into the unlatching configuration therebypermitting installation of the carrier foot into latched engagement uponthe anchor mechanism.

Still further, the latching mechanism can be adapted to permitpivotation of the carrier foot about an axis that is substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier foot while the carrierfoot is latched to the anchor mechanism. This makes it possible for thecarrier foot to be utilized on variously pitched vehicular supportsurfaces, usually automobile roofs having different shapes at their edgeregions.

The latching mechanism has an operating mechanism for configuring thelatching mechanism between the latched and the unlatchingconfigurations. As shown, the operating mechanism has a pushing shoulderadapted to engage a receiving shoulder of the latch body fortransferring or conveying movement of the operating mechanism to thelatch body.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an exchangeablehead assembly is provided that is coupleable; that is, designed to beconnected to a top portion of the housing encasement. The exchangeablehead assembly is adapted for releasable fixation with a load carriercross bar. When mounted upon a vehicle, a load carrier cross bar iscoupled or connected between two such carrier feet that are eachpositioned near to opposite end portions of the load carrier cross barfor suspending the cross bar atop the transporting vehicle.

As illustrated, the anchor mechanism additionally includes at least oneinsert adapted to be securably received in a channel portion of avehicularly-mounted rooftop track. It is in this way that thatparticular version of the invention is secured upon a vehicle's roofthat is adapted with such tracks.

In another embodiment, the present invention takes the form of anarrangement for securing a load carrier to a transporting vehicle thathas an anchor mechanism adapted for securement to a transporting vehicleand for releasable engagement with a carrier foot. The anchor mechanismhas a catch member that is configured for engagement with a latchingmechanism. A carrier foot has a latching mechanism that is adapted toassume a latched configuration responsively to being positioned upon thecatch member. The arrangement is further adapted to permit pivotation ofthe latching mechanism relative to the catch member when in a latchedconfiguration so that the carrier foot is permitted to be variablypositioned with respect to the anchor mechanism after assumption of thelatched configuration.

Still another embodiment of the invention takes the form of a method forsecuring a load carrier to a transporting vehicle. The method includesproviding an anchor mechanism that is adapted for being secured to atransporting vehicle and for releasable engagement with a carrier foot.The anchor mechanism has a catch member that is configured forengagement with a latching mechanism. A carrier foot is installed thathas a latching mechanism upon the catch member. The latching mechanismis adapted to assume a latched configuration under the exclusiveactuation of the catch member in response to the carrier foot beinginstalled upon the anchor mechanism.

The method further includes resiliently biasing the latching mechanismtoward a latching configuration before the carrier foot being installedupon the anchor mechanism. The latching mechanism is then reconfiguredfrom the latching configuration to an unlatched configuration and thento the latched configuration based solely on its cooperation with thecatch member as the carrier foot is being installed upon the anchormechanism. After such installation, the carrier foot may be pivotedrelative to the anchor mechanism about an axis substantially parallel toa longitudinal axis of the carrier foot after being installed upon theanchor mechanism and while the latching mechanism is in the latchedconfiguration.

The beneficial effects described above apply generally to the exemplarydevices and mechanisms disclosed herein of a load carrier footarrangement. The specific structures through which these benefits aredelivered will be described in detail hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail in the followingway of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a carrier foot arrangement(and shown in context with anchor, bar, channel, and vehicle)constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away and partial cross-sectional view takensubstantially along a bisecting centerline of the carrier footarrangement of FIG. 1 in a latching configuration;

FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away and partial cross-sectional view takensubstantially along a bisecting centerline of the carrier footarrangement of FIG. 1 in an unlatched configuration; and

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of a carrier foot arrangement inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view demonstrating a spacer configured to bepositioned between a base unit and a track channel in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a spacer in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bolt aperture in the spacer of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a spacer connected to a base unitin accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a spacer positioned in a track slot.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a base attached to a track slot,including a spacer in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an accommodation unit interconnectingan anchor and a channel in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an accommodation unit installedinterstitially between a specially configured base unit and aside-access channel in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a base coverinstalled over a base unit in a spacer-incorporating configuration inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Referring to the figures and particularly to FIG. 1 at this time, apartial section of the roof region of a transporting vehicle 10 is shownwith a track channel 11 installable thereupon. The channel 11 typicallyhas a C-shaped transversely viewed cross-section and may be mounted uponthe upper exterior surface of an edge region of a vehicular roof orrecessed thereinto. In either case, the track channel 11 is provided toaccept insert portions 30 of an anchor mechanism 18 that is designed asa component of an arrangement 16 for securing a load carrier totransporting vehicle 10. The anchor mechanism 18 serves as a supportplatform for a load carrier foot 32. In this illustrated embodiment, theanchor mechanism 18 includes square inserts 30 that are connected to abase portion 19, one each by a threaded screw 21. In use, the inserts 30are positioned within the C-shaped channel 11 with the threaded screw 21inserted through a lengthwise top opening into the channel 11. Theheaded portion of the screw 21 is located above the base portion 19 andthe threaded portion of the screw 21 extends through the base portion 19and into a receiving aperture, typically threaded, of the insert 30. Thebase portion 19 is fixed with respect to the channel 11, and in turn thetransporting vehicle 10 by sufficiently tightening the screws 21 so thatthe insert 30 is drawn up against the underside of the inwardlyextending flanges of the channel 11 and so that a lower surface of thebase portion 19 is pressed firmly against the topside of the inwardlyextending flanges of the channel 11.

The arrangement 16 for securing a load carrier to a transporting vehicle10 places the carrier foot 32 above the anchor mechanism 18. A topportion 36 of the carrier foot 32 is adapted to accept an exchangeablehead assembly 84. The exchangeable head assembly 84 is provided forreleasable engagement with a load carrier cross bar 12, typically at anend portion 14 thereof. Each head assembly 84 is adapted to beexchangeable with differently configured head assemblies 84. An array ofhead assemblies 84 may be differently configured because each isdesigned for releasably capturing a load carrier cross bar 12 having adifferent shape and design. Typically, the head assembly 84 will only beexchangeable for the manufacturer of the arrangement 16 and not thepurchaser. That is, as far as the end-user or consumer is concerned, thehead assembly 84 is a permanent part of the carrier foot 32; and assuch, may alternately be commonly encased with the rest of the foot 32.One example of how a head assembly can be made readily interchangeableis by using threaded screws to couple the head assembly 84 to the top 36of the intermediate portion 37 from within the protected space of theinterior region of the carrier foot 32. In this manner, the consumerwill not easily access the operational or headed end of the screw. Theexchangeable nature of the head assembly 84 is provided so that amanufacturer can easily vary the configurations of the carrier foot 32to accommodate a wide array of variously styled crossbars 12 that theconsuming public may desire to use in combination with the carrier foot32 of the present invention.

As shown, the head assembly 84 includes a sliding wedge 86 thatcooperates with an oppositely configured inclined plane within the headassembly 84. By drawing the sliding wedge 86 up the inclined plane, atightening engagement between the wedge 86 and a corresponding surfaceof the load carrier cross bar 12 is affected. In the illustratedembodiment, a threaded bolt's 90 incorporation with a nut 92 is utilizedfor moving the wedge 86. A spring 88 is shown that acts to bias thewedge 86 down the inclined plane and toward a released configuration inwhich the cross bar 12 is permitted to slide longitudinally in the headassembly 84. Once the cross bar 12 is properly positioned and fixed tothe carrier foot 32, an end cap 15 may be pressingly installed upon theexposed end of the cross bar 12 for closing and providing a finishedappearance for the cross bar 12 outside the carrier foot 32.

Referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of the anchor mechanism 18 may beappreciated. Extending upwardly from the base portion 19 is a pair ofsupports 26 that form flanges to which a catch member 20 is installableand fixable. In the illustrated embodiment, the catch member 20 takesthe form of a cylindrical bar 22 having end portions retained withinapertures that extend through each of the pair of supports 26. As willbe described in detail hereinbelow, a central axis of the bar 22 servesas a pivotation axis 24 about which the carrier foot 32 is pivotable inan installed configuration. In this manner, the bar 22 is suspendedabove an open space that defines a catch area 28.

The carrier foot 32 includes an intermediate body portion 37 having ahousing encasement 82 that covers and protects the internal workingmechanisms of the foot 32. One of those working mechanisms is a latchingmechanism 38 utilized for releasably securing the carrier foot 32 to theanchor mechanism 18.

Serving as a support for the latching mechanism 38 are two side flanges73, each having an aperture therethrough for receiving a pivot axle 70upon which a latch body 60 is journaled for pivotation between alatching configuration and an unlatching configuration. The latch body60 is designed so that at least a portion thereof is insertible into thecatch area 28 underneath the catch member 20.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exploded configuration of the latch body 60 isshown depicting and interior body portion 63 sandwiched between twoexterior ears 66. In a preferred embodiment, the interior body portion63 is constructed from lightweight plastic and the exterior ears 66 areconstructed from steel that is more durable. In this manner, most of theforces being conveyed through the latch body 60 are concentrated withinthe stronger ear portions 66. A resilient biasing mechanism 40 in theform of a spring 42 is utilized to urge the latch body 60 toward thelatching configuration. The latching configuration is depicted in FIG. 2in which an abutment surface 76 of the latch body 60 is under and inabutting engagement with the catch member 20.

The carrier foot 32 and the anchor mechanism 18 are configured so thatthe foot 32 can be pressed or positioned into latched engagement withthe anchor mechanism 18 without further operator manipulation. To enablethis feature, the installation process is initiated with the latch body60 in the orientation depicted in FIG. 2. In this manner, as the carrierfoot 32 is moved into position adjacent to the anchor mechanism 18, aninclined surface 77 of the latch body 60 (a surface which is exposedtoward the anchor mechanism 18) is generally the first portion of thecarrier foot 32 to engage the catch member 20 upon proper approach.After initial engagement and as the carrier foot 32 is moved furtherdown onto the anchor mechanism 18, the bar 22 of the catch member 20slides up the inclined surface 77 pressing the latch body 60 backwardout of the bar's 22 way and in the process compresses the resilientbiasing mechanism 40.

As illustrated, the resilient biasing mechanism 40 takes the form of thespring 42. Once the carrier foot 32 is moved sufficiently far down uponthe anchor mechanism 18 to be properly seated thereupon, the catchmember 20 has slid beyond a top edge of the inclined surface 77 so thatthe latch body 60 springs outwardly into the catch area 28 under theinfluence of the spring 42. In this position, the abutment surface 76 isproperly position to catch under the catch member 20. Under the bias ofthe spring 42, the latch body 60 will remain in the latchingconfiguration under the catch bar 22 until purposely moved to anunlatching configuration by the operator.

The unlatching configuration of the arrangement 16 is illustrated inFIG. 3. Therein, an operating mechanism 44 is shown depressed into thecarrier foot 32. The purpose of the operator depressing the operatingmechanism 44 is to cause the pushing shoulder 52 of the operatingmechanism 44 to also travel inwardly and engage the receiving shoulder80 of the latch body 60. Continued inward travel of the pushing shoulder52 causes the latch body 60 to be pivoted back out of the catch area 28so that the abutment surface 76 is no longer trapped under the catchmember 20. This effectively disengages the carrier foot 32 from theanchor mechanism 18. The carrier foot 32, and any load carrier or loadcarrier cross bar 12 connected to the foot 32 can now be lifted awayfrom the transporting vehicle 10. The operating mechanism 44 ismanipulated by an operator through the use of the push-button actuator46 which is at least partially exposed through the housing encasement82. The actuator 46 includes guide prongs 45 as illustrated. An interiortravel guide 47 is provided that is fixed upon a housing closure member83 that matingly engages with the housing encasement 82 to form asubstantially complete enclosure for the intermediate body portion 37 ofthe carrier foot 32. The interior travel guide 47 has an exteriorsurface complimentarily configured to facilitate gliding operation ofthe push button actuator 46 thereupon. Still further, the interiortravel guide 47 has receivers specifically arranged to form prong tracks49 within which the guide prongs 45 slide and which also assist inguiding travel of the push button actuator 46 and its associatedcomponents, including the pushing shoulder 52.

A resilient biasing mechanism 50 in the form of a coil spring isprovided to urge the push button actuator 46 toward an un-actuatedconfiguration as is shown in FIG. 2. In this manner, the pushingshoulder 52 will normally be moved away from the latch body 60 unlesspurposefully depressed by and operator to cause the assumption of theunlatching configuration of the carrier foot 32.

A lock mechanism 48 is provided for cooperation with the push buttonactuator 46 of the operating mechanism 44. In the illustratedembodiment, the lock mechanism 48 is of a conventional design having ahead portion with a protrusion that can be rotated into and out oflocking engagement with a receiving recess using a conventional key.When in the locked configuration, the protrusion of the lock mechanism48 prevents sliding operation of the push button actuator 46 upon thetravel guide 47 because the protrusion is caught within the recess inthe body 37 of the carrier foot 32. In this manner, unauthorizeddisengagement of the carrier foot 32 from the anchor mechanism 18 isprevented. Because the latch body 60 is spring biased toward thelatching configuration, the operating mechanism 44 can be locked priorto the foot 32 being positioned upon the anchor mechanism 18 and furthermanipulation by the operator is not required for affecting locked andlatched connection of the foot 32 thereupon. A sliding cover 110 isshown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. As depicted in FIG. 4, the cover 110 isprovided at an exterior surface thereof with frictional ridges intendedto be engaged by a person's thumb or finger. When in the position shownin FIG. 4, the cover 110 completes the enclosure of the housing aboutthe carrier foot 32. During installation and removal of the foot 32 to acarrying vehicle, however, the cover 110 can be moved into a downwardposition when the push a button actuator 46 of the lock mechanism 48 isdepressed. In so doing, the actuator 46 will be maintained in a releasedconfiguration. This greatly assists a user by making it possible tomaintain two feet at opposite ends of a cross bar 12 in releasedconfigurations until purposefully engaged to the anchor 18. This isparticularly important when it is considered that each of the two feetof the pair are typically configured for engagement to and removal fromthe anchors 18 at opposite sides of the vehicle. Preferably, the feetare concurrently moved to the releasing configuration at least forremoval. This dual released configuration may also be desired duringinstallation when proper positioning is initially required, and then thetwo separate feet are moved into the engaged configuration.

The sliding operation of the cover 110 may be accomplished by anysuitable configuration, but a tongue-in-groove arrangement is preferablyutilized. Still further, by having the tongue frictionally fit withinthe groove, upward and downward positions of the cover 110 may bemaintained until purposely moved by the user.

FIG. 5 discloses an exploded view of an anchor mechanism 18 with aspacer 115 positioned between the base 19 and a track channel 11.Because of the reduced-width slot through which the inserts 30 must passinto the interior space of the track channel 11, each insert 30 isconfigured in the shape of a parallelogram as illustrated. The inserts30 are configured to accommodate their insertion through the top of thechannel 19 because the end portions of the track are difficult to removefor providing access. When tightening the base 19 to the track 11, thethreaded screws or bolts 21 are rotated thereby pulling the insert 30toward the base 19. Before a tightened orientation is achieved, it ispossible for there to be play between the base 19 and the top of thetrack 11. In this condition, it is possible for either or both of theinserts 30, or a portion thereof, to protrude back out of a slot of thetrack 11 thereby fouling its engagement therein.

This condition in which an end portion of the insert 30 can protrudedout of the slot of the track 11 is more likely to occur when the base 19is not centered above the slot of the track 11. Therefore, the spacer115 has been provided to establish a proper orientation and to preventthe unintended protrusion and misinstallation of the insert 30 into thechannel of the track 11. The insert 115 has a pin-portion 130 at itsupper surface intended to be inserted into a receiver at the bottom ofthe base 19. An expanded portion 116 at the bottom side of the spacer115 is configured for insertion into the slot of the track 11. As shownin FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, bolt apertures 120 are provided at each end of thespacer 115 for accepting the threaded bolts 21 therein. Threaded insertsor protrusions 125 are provided at an interior periphery of theapertures 120 for engaging the threads of the bolts 21. In this manner,the bolts 21 are prevented from unintentionally disengaging from thoseapertures 120 in the event that the spacer 115 is turned upside downduring the installation process. Still further, these protrusions 125keep the easily separable bolts 21 and spacer 115 together so that theyare less likely to be lost one from the other.

FIG. 8 provides a perspective bottom view of an assembled anchormechanism 18 and spacer 115. FIG. 9 provides a top perspective view of aspacer 115 located in the track 11 with the inserts 30 shown in theirproperly installed orientation. FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view ofan assembled arrangement of a base 19 with a spacer 115 properlyinstalled in a track 11.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative track configuration 11 a in which theaccess slot is provided in a sidewall thereof. As shown, this slot istypically too close to the top surface of the carrying vehicle 10 foradequate utilization. Still further, a problem occurs when clamping tosuch a track because the slot is perpendicular to the roof surface ofthe vehicle. As a result, unless otherwise configured the base wouldrotate out of the slot. To counter this motion, a stop 147 has beenincorporated into a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket ischaracterized as an accommodation unit 140. FIG. 12 shows across-sectional view in which the accommodation unit 140 is provided forconnecting an alternatively configured base 19 a to the track 11 a. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the accommodation unit 140 includes aninsert tab 145 that runs longitudinally along the length of theaccommodation unit 140 and is configured to be inserted into thesidewall access slot of the track 11 a. The tab 145 is turned up at itsdistal end for engagement with interior lips of the slot. In otherrespects, the accommodation unit 140 is configured to properly positionthe base 19 a with respect to the track 11 a for operation andutilization.

FIG. 13 provides a perspective view in which a base cover 150 is shownthat can be readily installed upon the base 19. It is a characteristicof the present invention that the base portion 19 may remain attached tothe carrying vehicle 10 even when the rack system is detached therefrom.The interior workings of the base portion 19, however, remain exposedwhen a carrier foot 32 is not installed there upon. Therefore, it isdesirable to have a cover such as that shown as the base cover 150 thatnot only serves an aesthetic purpose, but also protects the mechanismsof the base 19 from dirt and possible damage if struck by an object.Still further, the base cover 150 can provide protection for persons inits vicinity or who may be struck by the base 19 because of the smoothexterior surface of the cover 150 that is less likely to gouge into aperson or object upon contact. The connection assembly between the cover150 and the base 19 can be similarly configured to the connectivemechanisms disclosed for the carrier foot 32, or any other suitablereleasable connective arrangement adequate to serve this purpose.

An arrangement 16 for securing a load carrier to a transporting vehicle10 has been described herein. These and other variations, which will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, are within the intended scopeof this invention as claimed below. As previously stated, detailedembodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, itis to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplaryof the invention that may be embodied in various forms.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention finds applicability in the vehicular load carrierindustries.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by letters patent is asfollows:
 1. An arrangement for securing a load carrier to a transportingvehicle comprising an anchor mechanism adapted for securement to a trackchannel installed upon the transporting vehicle, the anchor mechanismfor releasably receiving a carrier foot thereupon that is securablebetween secured and unsecured configurations, and a cover positionableupon the anchor mechanism when no carrier foot is received thereupon,the cover configured to provide a protective sheath over internalworking mechanisms embodied substantially within the anchor mechanismduring times of non-use.
 2. A cover positionable upon a base portion ofan anchor mechanism secured to a track channel, wherein the anchormechanism is adapted for releasably securing a load carrier to atransporting vehicle, the cover comprising: means for protecting theanchor mechanism and means for releasably connecting the cover to thebase portion of the anchor mechanism.
 3. The base cover of claim 2,wherein the means for protecting the anchor mechanism protects theanchor mechanism from harmful conditions selected from the groupconsisting of environmental conditions; physical impact damage to theanchor mechanism, physical impact damage to object striking the anchorand combinations thereof.
 4. The base cover of claim 2, wherein themeans for releasably connecting the base cover to the anchor mechanismincludes a frictional connection between the base cover and the anchormechanism.
 5. The base cover of claim 2, wherein the means for reliablyconnecting the base cover to the anchor mechanism includes means formechanically connecting the base cover to the anchor mechanism.
 6. Abase cover positionable upon a base of an anchor mechanism adapted forsecuring a load carrier to a transporting vehicle, the base covercomprising: at least two juxtaposed walls, wherein the walls areconnected to each other so as to form a protective enclosure for theanchor mechanism; and means for releasably connecting the base cover tothe base.
 7. The base cover of claim 6, wherein the the two juxtaposedwalls are substantially parallel and substantially vertical and areconnected to each other by one or more radially curved wall.
 8. The basecover of claim 7, wherein each juxtaposed wall has a leading edge, atrailing edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein the leadingedges of the two walls are connected to each other by a front radiallycurved wall, and wherein the trailing edges of the two wall areconnected to each other by a back radially curved wall and wherein thetop edges are connected to each other by a top radially curved wall andwherein the bottom edges are configured to releaseably and frictionallyengage the base.
 9. The base cover of claim 6, wherein the means forreleasably connecting the base cover to the base of the anchor mechanismincludes a frictional connection between the base cover and the base.10. The base cover of claim 6, wherein the means for releasablyconnecting the base cover to the base of the anchor mechanism includesmeans for mechanically engaging the base cover to the anchor mechanism.